With over 1300 species, 60 of which are endemic, the Indian subcontinent boasts an abundance of birdlife. India is among the eight countries that make up this region. From the northern Himalayas to the coastal plains, its bountiful geography provides a habitat for a remarkable diversity of species.
The region’s Tropical Monsoon climate is mainly characterised by wet and dry seasons that dictate the breeding habits of many birds. The country’s landscape, however, varies considerably, ranging from montane forests and wetlands to rolling grasslands, scrublands, and deserts. Many species have also adapted to India’s bustling cities.
In this article, we take a look at the smaller species often overlooked in India.
1. Indian Golden Oriole
- Scientific name: Oriolus kundoo
- Life span: Approximately 7-10 years
- Size: 20-24 cm (7.9-9.4 in)
- Weight: 60-90 g (2.1-3.2 oz)
- Wingspan: 42-48 cm (16.5-18.9 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Once considered a subspecies of the Eurasian golden oriole, this Old World species can be distinguished by its longer black eye mask that extends behind the eye. Named for its golden yellow plumage, the Indian golden oriole has a black upper tail and upper wing coverts.
It can be found across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, breeding in the northernmost reaches of its range from southeast Iran to Nepal and wintering in South India and Srilanka, occurring in a range of habitats from woodlands, forests, and mangroves to parks, gardens, and orchards. Indian golden orioles feed on insects, nectar, and fruits. They disperse the seeds of many berries, including the invasive Lantana camara.
2. Baya Weaver
- Scientific name: Ploceus philippinus
- Life span: Approximately 5-10 years
- Size: 15-17 cm (5.9-6.7 in)
- Weight: 20-26 g (0.7-0.9 oz)
- Wingspan: 20-25 cm (7.9-9.8 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Known as son-chiri in Hindi, the Baya weaver is common and widespread in India. Another golden-plumaged passerine, this bird resembles a house sparrow outside the breeding season. During the rainy breeding season, which coincides with the monsoons, the male dons a yellow plumage, and all that remains of his winter colours are a brown face and streaked brown upper wings and tail. Baya weaves are gregarious birds.
Colonies nest in palm fronds or thorny trees near rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, or other freshwater bodies— the nests often overhanging the water. The Baya weaver is an intelligent bird. During the nineteenth century, Baya weavers were trained by street performers. Their fascinating feats included picking up coins, stringing beads, and firing miniature cannons.
3. Indian Swiftlet
- Scientific name: Aerodramus unicolor
- Life span: Approximately 10-15 years
- Size: 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 in)
- Weight: 8-12 g (0.3-0.4 oz)
- Wingspan: 27-30 cm (10.6-11.8 in)
- Status: Least Concern
The small brown Indian swiftlet is found in the southwest, where it breeds in the caves of rocky hills. It has crescent-shaped wings and spends most of its life in the air, catching insects on the wing. Similar in appearance to the Asian palm swift, this species can be distinguished by its shallow tail fork.
The Indian swiftlet is also known as the edible-nest swiftlet wing due to its use in Chinese cuisine. Their relatively tasteless half-cup nests, constructed of the male’s saliva, are harvested and mixed with spices to make birds’ nest soup, believed by some eastern cultures to have aphrodisiac properties. Little is known about this enigmatic species. Some of the largest colonies are found in the offshore islands of Maharashtra.
4. Vernal Hanging Parrot
- Scientific name: Loriculus vernalis
- Life span: Approximately 8-12 years in captivity
- Size: 14 cm (5.5 in)
- Weight: 30-40 g (1.1-1.4 oz)
- Wingspan: 15-16 cm (5.9-6.3 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Hanging parrots are named for their unique behaviour of sleeping upside down, hanging from a tree branch. The vernal hanging parrot is a small species associated with banyan and plantain trees.
Its verdant green plumage camouflages amid the lush foliage of the forest canopy, where it feeds on fruits and flowers. It has a crimson-red bill and rump. A powder blue throat patch distinguishes the male from the female. Its raucous chattering and high-pitched flight call can be heard in wooded habitats across the country, from jungles and forests to cultivated lands.
5. Indian Myna
- Scientific name: Acridotheres tristis
- Life span: Typically 4-12 years in the wild; up to 25 years in captivity
- Size: Around 23 cm (9 in)
- Weight: 82-143 g (2.9-5 oz)
- Wingspan: Approximately 36-40 cm (14-15.7 in)
- Status: Least Concern
An invasive species in many parts of the world, the Indian myna is a subspecies of the common myna, Acridotheres tristis. It is found in woodlands in southern India. Outside of its native range, which includes Iran, Indochina, and the Malay Peninsula, this bird poses a major threat to biodiversity and agriculture.
Like its Srilankan counterpart, the Indian myna is a tenacious bird with a strong territorial instinct and a remarkable ability to adapt to urban environments. It is a widespread and recognisable species. Mynas are typically seen in pairs during the day but roost communally.
They are noisy birds producing a range of vocalisations, including croaks, squawks, and growls. In preparation for their nighttime roost, mynas can be heard vocalising together in what is known as “communal noise.”
6. Red-vented Bulbul
- Scientific name: Pycnonotus cafer
- Life span: Approximately 8-12 years in the wild
- Size: Around 20 cm (7.9 in)
- Weight: 25-42 g (0.88-1.5 oz)
- Wingspan: Roughly 28 cm (11 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Another destructive invader, the red-vented bulbul has also been introduced in many parts of the world, where it continues to disrupt native ecosystems. An aggressive bird, it is known for displacing indigenous species from their territories and competing with them for food resources.
Along with the Indian myna, it is among the three bird species to have made the list of 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Species. Identifiable by its short crest and red vent, for which it is named, the red-vented bulbul has a dark hood and long, white-tipped tail. Red-vented bulbuls inhabit open forests and dry scrub.
They are also found in cultivations and are considered pests for the damage they cause to crops. Their diet comprises fruits, flowers, seeds, and insects.
7. Cinereous Tit
- Scientific name: Parus cinereus
- Life span: Approximately 2-3 years in the wild; up to 5 years in some cases
- Size: 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 in)
- Weight: 13-19 g (0.46-0.67 oz)
- Wingspan: Approximately 20-22 cm (7.9-8.7 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Named for its ashy plumage, the cinereous tit has a gray back with white underparts. Like other species in the genus Parus, it is a crestless tit with the characteristic black hood, white cheeks, and black stripe extending from breast to belly.
Cinereous tits occur in pairs or small groups, often joining mixed-species flocks, foraging in their open forest habitat. They can also be found in woodlands, gardens, and cultivations, where they glean insects off leaves and forage for fruits and buds.
The cinereous tit is an active bird. Its tri-note whistling call becomes more frequent during the breeding season. Cinereous tits nest in the hollows of trees or mud banks, often using the discarded nests of other birds.
8. Common Tailorbird
- Scientific name: Orthotomus sutorius
- Life span: Typically around 2-3 years in the wild; up to 5 years
- Size: 10-14 cm (3.9-5.5 in)
- Weight: 6-10 g (0.2-0.35 oz)
- Wingspan: Approximately 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 in)
- Status: Least Concern
A common songbird, widespread across the Asian continent, the tailorbird is named for its skills in tailoring leaves to construct its nest—a fact made famous by Rudyard Kipling in his collection of stories, Jungle Book. Large leaves are sewn together using spider silk or plant fibres.
This shy insectivore is often hiding in the trees of urban gardens. Listen for its loud, repetitive alarm-like call, often given in pairs. It is a small bird with soft-coloured plumage and short wings.
It has a pinkish-red crown, olive green upperparts, and cream-white underparts. Its long tail points upwards, much like that of a wren. The natural habitat of the common tailorbird is typically scrublands and forest edges, but they are also found in farmlands.
9. Scaly-breasted Munia
- Scientific name: Lonchura punctulata
- Life span: Generally 6-8 years in the wild; up to 10 years in captivity
- Size: 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 in)
- Weight: 12-16 g (0.4-0.6 oz)
- Wingspan: Around 18-20 cm (7.1-7.9 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Informally known as the “spice finch,” or “nutmeg mannikin,” this estrildid is commonly traded in the exotic bird industry. It is named for the distinctive scaly patterning on its breast and belly. Its plumage is chestnut brown above, giving it “spicy” colouration.
It is pale below with dark scalloped markings. Typical of estrildid finches, it has a thick, conical bill for feeding on seeds. It also eats small berries and insects. Scaly-breasted munias are social birds that occur in flocks. The call is a short whistle.
These are grassland birds, but they are also found in gardens, open fields, and agricultural areas. The scaly-breasted munia is often observed flicking its tail up and down or from side to side, a behaviour believed to play a role in social signaling.
10. Indian White-eye
- Scientific name: Zosterops palpebrosus
- Life span: Approximately 5-6 years in the wild; can live longer in captivity
- Size: 8-9 cm (3.1-3.5 in)
- Weight: 6-10 g (0.2-0.35 oz)
- Wingspan: About 10-12 cm (3.9-4.7 in)
- Status: Least Concern
This small passerine of the white-eye family is also known as the oriental white-eye. It is a distinctive bird, easily identifiable by its yellow and white plumage and characteristic white eyering. Its slim, curved bill is adapted to an insectivorous diet. Indian white-eyes also eat fruit and nectar.
These hyperactive little birds are found in a range of woodland habitats, including forests, mangroves, and thickets. Indian white-eyes are arboreal birds, rarely leaving the trees. They construct their nests from cobwebs, plant fibers, and lichen. White-eyes are known to steal nesting material from other birds.
The call of the Indian white-eye is a monotonous cheer given in foraging flocks. Their songs are thin and wispy with slurring notes. Indian white-eyes play a role in the pollination of flowers.
11. Ashy Prinia
- Scientific name: Prinia socialis
- Life span: Typically around 2-4 years in the wild
- Size: 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 in)
- Weight: Approximately 8-12 g (0.28-0.42 oz)
- Wingspan: Approximately 13-17 cm (5.1-6.7 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Also known as the wren warbler, this species is found in gardens and farmlands across South Asia. It is a small bird with short, rounded wings. Its long tail is tipped with black spots and is often tipped upwards. It has reddish-brown irises and a narrow bill.
The ashy prinia is named for its grey crown, aside from which it has rufous upperparts and cream underparts. There is some variation in plumage colouration between subspecies, particularly during the breeding season. Ashy prinias occur in dry, open habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, and scrub.
Typical of warblers, they subsist mainly on insects and other invertebrates but may also feed on the nectar of shrub flowers. Ashy prinias make a snappy, “sparking,” noise during flight, that has been described as electrical-sounding.
12. Indian Silverbill
- Scientific name: Euodice malabarica
- Life span: Approximately 5-7 years in the wild; can live longer in captivity
- Size: 11–11.5 cm (4.3–4.5 in)
- Weight: 10–14 g (0.35–0.49 oz)
- Wingspan: Approximately 15-17 cm (5.9-6.7 in)
- Status: Least Concern
This small, chunky passerine bird is also known as the white-throated munia. Its plumage is brown above and cream below, and it has a stout, conical bill. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and surrounding region.
A sociable species, it inhabits semi-desert, dry grasslands, and scrublands where chirpy foraging flocks can be seen feeding amid grasses and shrubs. These birds are granivorous, feeding mainly on seeds. Indian silverbills nest in southern India during winter, spending summers in the north.
Their tousled grass nests are placed in shrubs or thorn trees, and they may sometimes make use of the nests of baya weavers. The Indian silverbill is a popular cage bird, and as such, feral populations have established in many parts of the world, well outside its native range.
13. Jungle Babbler
- Scientific name: Argya striata
- Life span: Approximately 5-7 years in the wild; potentially longer in captivity
- Size: 23-26 cm (9-10.2 in)
- Weight: 50-70 g (1.8-2.5 oz)
- Wingspan: Approximately 26-28 cm (10.2-11 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Jungle babblers are noisy, social birds, often heard in a cacophony of harsh mewing, chattering, and chirping. They are typically encountered in small flocks of up to ten individuals—a behaviour for which they are locally called Sat Bhai, translated as “the seven brethren.” While a forest-dweller by nature, these birds are often seen in city gardens and cultivated lands.
Rather drab in appearance, the jungle babbler’s plumage is uniformly grey-brown and slightly scruffy. Its bill varies from dull yellow to orange-brown, and it has pale irises and a dark brow, giving it a somewhat angry expression. Jungle babblers eat mainly insects but also feed on grains, berries, and nectar.
These birds are long-lived for their size and surprisingly intelligent, with social behaviours comparable to primates, such as cooperative breeding and guarding. While foraging, some birds stand guard from a high perch, and flocks are known to mob potential predators.
14. Speckled Piculet
- Scientific name: Picumnus innominatus
- Life span: Generally around 5-6 years in the wild
- Size: Approximately 9-10 cm (3.5-3.9 in)
- Weight: Around 7-9 g (0.25-0.32 oz)
- Wingspan: Approximately 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 in)
- Status: Least Concern
The speckled piculet is a tiny woodpecker of the Picidae family. Its plumage is mainly olive-brown above, with a brown head and two white stripes along the sides of the head. It is named for the dark brown speckles on its cream-white underparts.
Sexes are alike, but the male is distinguishable by its orange-brown forecrown. This forest bird is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is a resident breeder and fairly common in most of its range. It forages the undergrowth for insects and their larvae, pecking at the trunks and branches of trees, sometimes hanging or hovering to catch prey.
The high-pitched, squeaky call and loud drumming often give away the location of this otherwise diminutive bird.
Final Thoughts
With flamboyant species such as the Indian peafowl and Himalayan monal, smaller birds may get lost in the shadows of India’s manifold of lush forests, rolling grasslands, and extensive coasts. Striking species include the Indian pitta and paradise flycatcher.
Some of the region’s most resilient birds have adapted to its sprawling metropolises and urban conurbations. Other species are less fortunate. The small yet spectacular Bugun liocichla, for instance, is so rare it had gone unnoticed until its 1995 discovery in Arunachal Pradesh. Its critically endangered population is believed to be impacted by habitat loss and degradation—issues that plague many of India’s threatened species.
